Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/31/israel-chile-slovak-republic-among-countries-with-highest-adve/http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/31/israel-chile-slovak-republic-among-countries-with-highest-adve/http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/31/israel-chile-slovak-republic-among-countries-with-highest-adve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Israel, Chile, and the Slovak Republic are amongst the top adventure travel destinationA new study conducted by George Washington University, Vital Wave Consulting, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) shows that Israel, Chile, and the Slovak Republic led the way in adventure tourism in 2010. The study, which resulted in the third annual Adventure Tourism Development Index, uses a mix of quantitative data and expert surveys to rank nations from around the globe on their approach and commitment to sustainable adventure travel.

The study examines what researchers call the "ten pillars" of adventure tourism. Those pillars include such things as infrastructure, cultural resources, adventure activities, entrepreneurship, and more. When those factors were all examined and ranked accordingly, for each country, a score was calculated that resulted in rankings for both developed and developing nations.

So exactly which countries earned high marks in the latest Adventure Tourism Development Index? The top ten developing countries included the following: Israel, Slovak Republic, Chile, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Jordan, Romania and Latvia.Conversely, the top ten developed nations included: Switzerland, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Finland and Austria.

The ATTA is quick to point out that these lists are not an indication of how well visited these countries currently are as adventure travel destinations, although some are already popular amongst travelers. Instead, it is a general rating on the climate that exists in these places that make it possible to support sustainable tourism now and into the future.

Judging from the list, it appears that Europe is well ahead of the game in terms of promoting sustainable travel. Both lists are dominated by countries from that continent, which could come as a surprise to many travelers.

To read the entire report click here.

Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure travel trade associationadventure-travelAdventureTravelAdventureTravelTradeAssociationgreen travelGreenTravelsustainablesustainable tourismsustainable travelSustainableTourismSustainableTravelSun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

european passport stamps
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia.

Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that European passport stamps have become harder and harder to get. The expansion of the Schengen zone has reduced the number of times tourists are compelled to show their passports to immigration officials. For most Americans on multi-country European itineraries, a passport will be stamped just twice: upon arrival and upon departure.

Where's the fun in that?

There's nothing wrong with enjoying your passport's stamps. They're souvenirs. So ignore the haters and treasure them. You won't be the first to sit at your desk alone, lovingly fingering your stamps while daydreaming of your next adventure. You won't be the last, either.

And if you are a passport stamp lover with a penchant for European travel, don't despair. There are plenty of places in Europe where visitors have to submit their travel documents to officials to receive stamps. Some countries, in fact, even require Americans to purchase full-page visas in advance.

The Western Balkans remain almost entirely outside of Schengen. Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan all require visas for Americans, while Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia do not. Immigration officers at the borders of all of these countries, however, will stamp your passport when you enter and when you leave. Turkey provides visas on arrival. These cost €15. Among EU countries, the UK, Ireland, and Cyprus remain outside of Schengen for the time being, while Romania and Bulgaria will soon join it.

Continue reading Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport

Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albaniaArmeniaAzerbaijanbelarusBosnia-HerzegovinaBulgariacroatiacypruseuropeEuropean unionEuropeanUniongeorgiairelandkosovomacedoniamoldovaMontenegroPassportpassportsRomaniarussiaSan marinoSanMarinoSerbiaturkeyukukraineunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvisasWed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/old-vs-new-schengen-and-the-decline-of-european-passport-stamp/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/old-vs-new-schengen-and-the-decline-of-european-passport-stamp/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/old-vs-new-schengen-and-the-decline-of-european-passport-stamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

schengen passport
Creative new use for border crossing posts at German/Austrian border.

In the late 1980s, an American spending a summer traveling across Europe with a Eurailpass would see his or her passport stamped possibly dozens of times. With a few exceptions, every time a border was crossed, an immigration agent would pop his or her head into a train compartment, look at everyone's passports, in most cases stamp them, and move on. Every Eastern Bloc country required visas, some of which could be obtained at the border and others of which had to be applied for in advance.

Today, an American can enter the Schengen zone in Helsinki, fly to Oslo and then on to Amsterdam, proceed by train through Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, then by bus to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and then by ferry back to Helsinki before catching a flight to Athens and landing in Greece without once needing to submit a passport to a border guard's scrutiny.

The development of the Schengen agreement across Europe has altered the geopolitical map of the continent in many ways. For tourists, the development of the Schengen zone has simplified travel by drastically reducing the number of times a passport can be checked and stamped as national borders are crossed.

The Schengen Agreement is named after the town of Schengen in Luxembourg. It was here in 1985 that five countries-Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany, and France-signed an agreement to essentially create borderless travel between them. A model for this agreement had been created years before by the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), which eliminated border controls back in 1948. The Nordic countries also did away with internal border posts, in 1958.

In 1995, the five original Schengen countries plus Portugal and Spain inaugurated the zone. In 1997, Austria and Italy joined. Greece followed in 2000 and the five Nordic countries joined in 2001. In late 2007, nine more countries joined the Schengen zone; most recently, Switzerland signed up in 2008.

Continue reading Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andorraAustriabelgiumBulgariacyprusCzech RepublicCzechRepublicdenmarkEstoniaeuropeEuropean unionEuropeanUnionfinlandfrancegermanygreeceHungaryIcelandirelanditalylatviaLiechtensteinlithuanialuxembourgmaltamonacoNetherlandsnorwaypassportsPolandportugalRomaniaSan marinoSanMarinoschengenschengen agreementSchengenAgreementSlovakiasloveniaspainswedenswitzerlandtraveloldandnewunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvaticanvisasTue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Romania may send witches to jail if predictions don't come true]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/08/romania-may-send-witches-to-jail/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/08/romania-may-send-witches-to-jail/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/08/romania-may-send-witches-to-jail/#commentsFiled under:

Romania witchesYes, we're aware it's closer to Valentine's Day than Halloween, but the news that Romania has decided to impose even tougher regulations on its witches (yes, witches) is generating 'round the globe chatter.

Just one month after authorities began to impose a tax on their trade, the country's witches and soothsayers are fighting against a new bill that will impose a fine and perhaps even jail time if predictions don't come true.

In January, the government changed labor laws to officially recognize witchcraft as a taxable profession, prompting angry witches to dump poisonous mandrake into the Danube in an attempt to put a hex on them. The new bill would also require witches to have a permit, to provide their customers with receipts and bar them from practicing near schools and churches.

The taxes, imposed as a way to fight tax evasion and help the recession-strapped country generate additional income, are drawing understandable ire from the country's witches. The country was the recipient of a $27 billion bailout from the International Montetary Fund in 2009.

Continue reading Romania may send witches to jail if predictions don't come true

Romania may send witches to jail if predictions don't come true originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new lawNewLawromaniawitchesTue, 08 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Wizz Air, European low-cost airline]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/13/flying-wizz-air-european-low-cost-airline/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/13/flying-wizz-air-european-low-cost-airline/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/13/flying-wizz-air-european-low-cost-airline/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


I just flew with Wizz Air, a major budget airline in Europe whose name and stunts I had previously only snickered over. It turns out in addition to offering low fares across Europe, they are also the largest carrier in Hungary (at least according to Wizz, Malev Hungarian would beg to differ) and a major player in Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. Last week I traveled to Bulgaria (look for some future Weekending posts soon) and decided to try to fly across the country from the Black Sea town of Varna to the capital city Sofia rather than spend another eight hours on a bus. As is often the case with budget carriers, Wizz has caught a fair amount of flack for their nickle-and-diming fare structure and customer service, so I was anxious to experience it first-hand.

Continue reading Flying Wizz Air, European low-cost airline

Flying Wizz Air, European low-cost airline originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allowancebaggagebaggage feesBaggageFeeBaggageFeesblack seaBlackSeabudget carrierbudget travelBudgetCarrierBudgetTravelbulgariaeuropefeeshungaryinflightInflightEntertainmentLowCostLowCostCarrierLowCostCarriersmagazinepolandromaniaservice feesServiceFeessofiavarnawizzwizz airwizzairMon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Prehistoric cave art discovered in Transylvania]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/18/prehistoric-cave-art-discovered-in-transylvania/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/18/prehistoric-cave-art-discovered-in-transylvania/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/18/prehistoric-cave-art-discovered-in-transylvania/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A group of speleologists exploring a cave in the Apuseni Nature Park in Transylvania, Romania, have discovered what could be Central Europe's oldest cave art. Paintings of now-extinct species rhinoceros and cat were found next to images of bison, a horse, a bear's head, and a female torso.

While dating cave art is difficult, based on the style archaeologists believe the figures are anywhere from 23,000 to 35,000 years old. No cave art this old has ever been found in Central Europe.

Coliboaia cave, where the art was discovered, is one of hundreds of caves in the Bihorului Mountains. Many have yet to be explored and there are likely to be more archaeological surprises in the future.

The question remains of what to do with the cave. There will be a temptation to open it to the public, but with the controversial reopening of Altamira in Spain, and the problems over preserving the paintings of Lascaux in France, the debate over how best to preserve humanity's oldest art is growing louder than ever.

Lascaux image courtesy Sevela.p via Wikimedia Commons.

Prehistoric cave art discovered in Transylvania originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cavecave artCaveArtcavescavingpaleolithicprehistoricprehistoric animalsprehistoric artPrehistoricAnimalsPrehistoricArtspeleologistspeleologistsspeleologystone ageStone age artStoneAgeStoneAgeArtTransylvaniaFri, 18 Jun 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Man flies to London hidden beneath airplane]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/10/man-flies-to-london-hidden-beneath-airplane/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/10/man-flies-to-london-hidden-beneath-airplane/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/10/man-flies-to-london-hidden-beneath-airplane/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A 20-year-old Romanian man is lucky to be alive after he was discovered hidden inside the rear wheel compartment of a jet arriving this week in London. The stowaway, who was apparently looking for work, braved low oxygen and outside air temperatures during the flight as low as 40 below zero. Upon his discovery at London's Heathrow Airport, he was covered in bruises and showing signs of hypothermia, but thankfully still alive.

How exactly did a man manage to sneak inside a plane? And how did he make it through the experience? It turns out through a remarkable mix of luck, daring and stupidity. The man apparently climbed under a fence at Vienna's Schwechat airport, hiding himself beneath a private jet that had been parked there since last week. He also lucked out with the flight plan - the plane had to fly at a lower-than-normal altitude to avoid bad weather, allowing the man to survive what would normally be a fatal combination of cold and lack of air.

UK authorities were surprised by the man's unexpected arrival, though they declined to press charges. As Romania is part of the European Union, the "passenger" was technically allowed to visit on holiday. He was cautioned and freed with no further action. Frankly, this traveler is lucky to have survived the ordeal, let alone gotten off without legal action.

Next time you're ready to complain about that horrible experience on your last flight, you might want to think again. Somebody out there has definitely had it much worse.

(Image: Flickr/Lili Vieira de Carvalho's)

Man flies to London hidden beneath airplane originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dangerouseueuropean unionEuropeanUnionhiddenhideawayhidingimmigrationlondonmigrantschwechatstowawayviennaweirdworkerThu, 10 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trade Mocked]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/10/trade-mocked/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/10/trade-mocked/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/10/trade-mocked/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You were a cheerleader, you dated a cheerleader, or you hated the cheerleaders. As I recall, that's how high school worked.

Thanks to travel PR, that same primeval paradigm lives on long after graduation. That miniskirts-shouting-slogans thing still works, whether you're a used car salesman, Miley Cyrus on VH1 or the tourist board of a small Balkan nation. When it comes to selling your destination in today's busy world of busy people, a country's name just isn't enough--just like school spirit, you need colors, a pep band, a mascot, a brand and most important--a cheer.

It's tragic but true: tourist boards don't trust their country's name to inspire appropriate thoughts in your brain. Toponyms are too open-ended and too untrustworthy--also, way too obvious. For example, what's the first thing that pops into your head when I say . . . Monte Carlo? How about Australia? The Bahamas? Kuwait? The Gambia?

Whatever you're thinking, it's not enough. Tourist boards want you to choose their destination over all others, then allocate all of your vacation days to them and then come spend your money on very specific things--like miniature golf by the sea or hot air balloon rides across the prairie. In short, they want your school spirit so much they're churning out cheers to fill up all the Swiss cheese holes in your mental map of the world.

Like a good cheer, a good destination slogan is simple and so memorable it sticks in your head like two-sided tape. Sex sells, but then so does love: "Virginia is for Lovers", Hungary offers visitors "A Love for Life", Albania promises "A New Mediterranean Love", while the highlighted "I feel Slovenia" spells out sweetly "I Feel Love". Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina call themselves "the Heart Shaped Land" and Denmark's logo is a red heart with a white cross. Colombia and Dubai have red hearts in their logo. Everybody else uses sunshine.

Continue reading Trade Mocked

Trade Mocked originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingcountriesPRpublic relationsPublicRelationstourismtrademarksSat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A video bike trip from Berlin to Istanbul]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/04/from-berlin-to-istanbul-by-bike/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/04/from-berlin-to-istanbul-by-bike/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/04/from-berlin-to-istanbul-by-bike/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



Josh Wedlake spent a month riding a bicycle from Berlin to Istanbul. Not only was his ride an impressive feat of endurance, the animated video recreation he's made of his trip is nearly as amazing. For over four months upon his return, Josh was animating and editing a 3D version of his journey using an open-source animation tool called Blender.

Not only does the film provide viewers with a beautiful visual feast, Wedlake provides a wonderful accompanying narration, loaded with deep reflections and plenty of poignant moments. Passionate travelers like Josh are inventing a new method of travel storytelling, using digital tools and new methods to bring their experiences to life.

Best of all, Josh is raising money from his ride and the video to donate to charity. If you like the film, you can offer a donation here and here.

[Via Metafilter]

A video bike trip from Berlin to Istanbul originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationau soleilAuSoleilberlinistanbuljosh wedlakeJoshWedlakeSun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get out and go: Events around the world (October 28-31)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/27/get-out-and-go-events-around-the-world-october-28-november-1/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/27/get-out-and-go-events-around-the-world-october-28-november-1/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/27/get-out-and-go-events-around-the-world-october-28-november-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It's time to look at the festivals and events happening around the world, and this week has a particularly spooky selection of happenings. It is Halloween weekend after all. If you're close and have time, then you have no excuse to get out and go!
  • Denmark - Since the first Music Harvest in 1985, the festival has presented contemporary music from the USA, Russia, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Finland, Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic countries, as well as from Denmark. The event takes place in Odense. It begins Wednesday, October 28 and will continue until November 7.
  • Cambodia - Coronation Day a major religious holiday all over Cambodia and commemorates King Norodom Sihamoni's Coronation. This event takes place this Thursday, October 29th.
  • Ottawa - One World Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers and the public to exchange ideas and information about issues of social justice, human rights and the environment. The event begins Thursday October 29 and continues until October 30.
  • Hong Kong - Wine and Dine Festival is part of the a range of food and wine events in Hong Kong. The event begins this Friday, October 30 and continues until November 1.
  • Las Vegas - The Professional Bull Riders Finals take place this Friday, October 30 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. The event is followed by the National Rodeo Finals later in the year and will continue until November 8.
  • Transylvania - Halloween in Transylvania is a special event that will be held this Saturday, October 31,. The festival includes tours, shows and celebrations that follow the footsteps of Bram Stoker's novel character, Count Dracula.
If you make it to one of these events, let us know how it was. If you know of an even that's coming up, please let us here at Gadling know and we'll be sure to include it in the next "Get out and go" round-up.

'Til next week, have a great Halloween weekend.

Get out and go: Events around the world (October 28-31) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambodiadenmarkdraculaeventsfestivalsget out and gohalloweenlas vegastransylvaniaTue, 27 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.7.09]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/07/gadlinks-for-wednesday-10-7-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/07/gadlinks-for-wednesday-10-7-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/07/gadlinks-for-wednesday-10-7-09/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TGI Wednesday! I am really craving some down time and am ready for the weekend already. Only two more days to go, everyone. Hang in there. To keep your week plugging along, here are the latest and greatest travel reads from around the web.

'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks here.

Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.7.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biggest loserBiggestLosercesar milanCesarMilandogsecotourismgadlinksislandsnycpetsromaniautahWed, 07 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyclist circles the globe in 174 days]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/24/cyclist-circles-the-globe-in-174-days/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/24/cyclist-circles-the-globe-in-174-days/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/24/cyclist-circles-the-globe-in-174-days/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last weekend, British cyclist James Bowthorpe rolled into London's Hyde Park, finishing an epic ride around the globe, and setting a new world's record in the process. Bowthorpe became the fastest person to circumnavigate the planet by bike, finishing the 18,000 mile ride in 174 days, beating the old record by 20 days.

Bowthorpe's journey took him across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, the Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, before returning him home. In order to finish in this record time, he averaged more than 100 miles per day, and near the end of his journey, he was riding as much as 150 miles in a single go.

The 32-year old cyclist, who rode to raise funds for Parkinson's research, faced plenty of challenges along the way. The weather was a constant adversary with high winds and rains tormenting him at times, while heat and humidity took their toll at others. Road conditions were tricky in some of the more remote areas as well, and while he was riding through India, Bowthrope took ill and spent three days in bed trying to recover.

The new record bests the one set by Mark Beaumont last year when he circled the globe in 194 days. Beumont is currently on another long distance cycling expedition, riding from Anchorage, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in South America.

Although the ride may be over for Bowthorpe, his goal to raise money to find a cure for Parkinson's Disease continues. He had hoped to raise £1.8 million on his journey, and he is still focused on reaching that goal. To find out more about James and his long distance ride, and how you can contribute to his cause, go to GlobeCycle.org.

Cyclist circles the globe in 174 days originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbikingcircumnavigatecyclingcyclistparkinsonsparkinsonsdiseaseworld recordWorldRecordThu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Galley Gossip: The official laviators music video! ]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/14/galley-gossip-the-official-laviators-club-music-video/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/14/galley-gossip-the-official-laviators-club-music-video/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/14/galley-gossip-the-official-laviators-club-music-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dear Heather,
My name is George, I am from Europe and I'm 19 years old. I know about your websites since a long time. Today I was browsing and I've discovered the pictures with the laviators. In the same time I was listening to a song and I've got inspired. I have a great idea of making a video with all your laviators and send it to you as gift. I will use the pictures only for you and me. I won't publish it. If you want you can use it for your websites, I think everyone will like it as it's kind of tribute or so. I'm sure it will be nice, great and fun. Please don't break my heart and give me your accept. I will send you a sample first so you can decide what to do with it. It's my gift, please accept it. : ) Thank you very much!

Kind regards,

George

Continue reading Galley Gossip: The official laviators music video!

Galley Gossip: The official laviators music video! originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Galley GossipGalleyGossipHeather PooleHeatherPoolelaviatorsmusic videoMusicVideoTue, 14 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[15 Great Mountain Vacations]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/13/15-great-mountain-vacations/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/13/15-great-mountain-vacations/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/13/15-great-mountain-vacations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The U.K. based online magazine Wide World launched at the beginning of May, and is already building a library of good content for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. The articles vary greatly in subject matter and include an interview with free diver Sara Campbell, a look at the world's toughest race, and a growing collection of gear reviews.

One of the feature articles is of particular interest for travelers, offering up 15 amazing mountain trips from around the globe that will give you something to do at altitude even in the summer. Some of the locations on the list are amongst the most famous mountaineering communities in the world, each well known for offering a range of outdoor adventure activities.

For instance, Chamonix, France appears on the list, and during the winter, the famous mountain town is filled with visitors looking to take advantage of the best skiing and climbing in Europe. But during the summer months, those crowds vanish, leaving one of the world's best outdoor playground virtually deserted. Sitting at the base of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe, Chamonix gives easy access to some of the best alpine hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking found anywhere.

The other locations on the list are just as impressive, and each offers its own unique mountain activities. Some are great paragliding destinations, others offer horseback riding, rafting, fly fishing, and more. Most of the locations are in Europe and North America, with Queenstown, New Zealand being the lone exception. Any one of these mountain escapes would make a great getaway for anyone still looking for summertime fun.

15 Great Mountain Vacations originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelchamonixclimbingfrench alpsFrenchAlpshikingkayakingmatterhornmountainmountain bikingMountainBikingmountainspaddlingraftingskiingtrekkingSat, 13 Jun 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazing Race 14: Romania is simply gorgeous]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/02/amazing-race-14-romania-is-simply-gorgeous/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/02/amazing-race-14-romania-is-simply-gorgeous/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/02/amazing-race-14-romania-is-simply-gorgeous/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Going to Bucharest, Romania from Salzburg, Austria doesn't seem to be that difficult--unless you're Tammy & Victor who were on the first flight out--that plane had engine troubles and returned to the airport--or Brad & Victoria who decided to take a gamble and fly to Amsterdam for an earlier flight possibility. Instead, they missed their connection. For everyone else, the trip was smooth.

What I noticed during this episode of Amazing Race 14 was that as teams criss-crossed each other, often ending up at the same place at the same time, they seemed to enjoy each other's company. In my opinion, this is making this season's race more fun to watch. I mean, my goodness, who wants crabbing in Salzburg? This episode also was a chance to take in Romania's beauty while seeing how the show would tie in Romanian themes.

Continue reading Amazing Race 14: Romania is simply gorgeous

Amazing Race 14: Romania is simply gorgeous originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazing Race 14AmazingRace14BrasovBucharestElimination stationEliminationStationgypsiesnadia comaneciNadiaComanecirealtiy tvRealtiyTvMon, 02 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazing Race contestants: What does it take exactly?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/15/amazing-race-contestants-what-does-it-take-exactly/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/15/amazing-race-contestants-what-does-it-take-exactly/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/15/amazing-race-contestants-what-does-it-take-exactly/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What does it take to get picked as an Amazing Race contestant team? In this Columbus Dispatch article, there's some insight. Victoria Hunt, the female part of the Columbus-based married couple team--Brad and Victoria, who are competing in Amazing Race 14, tried out for Survivor several times.

She never made it onto Survivor, but when she showed the powers that be a photo of her husband, Victoria was bumped over to the Amazing Race with Brad in tow. It helps that both of them are attractive and fit. Like Victoria, hubby Brad is an exercise hound. Along with rock and ice climbing, he kayaks, mountaineers at high altitudes and power-lifts. Not only does he participate in marathons, he is in ultra-marathons. Frankly, it sounds as if he could answer the casting call for a good looking, silver-haired Batman.

As for Victoria, she is an avid skier, but I hope she has more experience than Ohio's offerings. Snow Trails and Mad River Mountain are fun--but even I ski those, and I'm no skier.

According to Victoria, the show is looking for folks who "have an opinion" since this makes for interesting TV. Based on the article, I assume Brad and Victoria made it at least through a couple legs of the race. I wonder if they made it to Romania and Siberia, two new destinations this season? The filming started right after Halloween, spanning 40,000 miles and seven other countries.

For a rundown of the other Amazing Race 14 contestants, click here.

Amazing Race contestants: What does it take exactly? originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazing Race 14AmazingRace14Columbus DispatchColumbus OhioColumbusDispatchColumbusOhioMad River MountainMadRiverMountainreality TVRealityTvSnow TrailsSnowTrailsSun, 15 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Burger King ad criticized as "culturally tone-deaf"]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/new-burger-king-ad-criticized-as-culturally-tone-deaf/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/new-burger-king-ad-criticized-as-culturally-tone-deaf/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/new-burger-king-ad-criticized-as-culturally-tone-deaf/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Advertising is all about generating buzz, and those ad whizzes at Burger King sure do have a knack for that. (See, for example, Burger King's big-headed, stalker-ish "King" character for a prime example.)

Now their newest ad campaign, called "Whopper Virgins," is drawing fire from a number of organizations as being exploitative and culturally insensitive. The new ads show people from some of the most remote parts of the globe-- the Hmong tribe in Thailand, farmers from Transylvania in Romania, and the Inuit in Greenland-- sampling Burger King's Whopper and a Big Mac from McDonald's for the first time, while a voiceover hails the experiment as "the world's purest taste test." The Whopper was apparently chosen "more often than not" over the Big Mac, according to the company. (In other words, "slightly more than half the time.")

Burger King's goal with the ad was to "see how the Whopper would perform in a world that didn't have ad or marketing awareness or any sentimental attachments," says Russ Klein, a Burger King exec.

But many others see the ad in a more sinister light. The blog Stereohyped criticized the ad in a post under the headline "Burger King Storms Innocent Villages to Plunder 'Virgins,'" while Adweek's Barbara Lippert called it "culturally tone-deaf."

Continue reading New Burger King ad criticized as "culturally tone-deaf"

New Burger King ad criticized as "culturally tone-deaf" originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hangover helpers by country]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/19/hangover-helpers-by-country/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/19/hangover-helpers-by-country/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/19/hangover-helpers-by-country/#commentsFiled under: ,

National Geographic has a nifty little chart showing traditional hangover cures by country.

You may have known, for example, that many Americans use tomato juice and eggs to cure the aftermath of a long night out on the town. But did you know that in Romania they use tripe soup? As in cow's stomach tripe? I don't know about you, but nothing makes my upset tequila bowels go away better than some cow's stomach.

Browsing around through the other hangover cures, you can see the stories behind each by hovering your cursor over any of the images. Coffee and green tea, to me, seem to be the only palatable items on the menu. But I guess I've always had a pretty weak stomach.

For now though, I'll leave the fish, pickles and tripe soup go, to the foodies.

Continue reading Hangover helpers by country

Hangover helpers by country originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eggshangoverhangover cureHangoverCurenational geographicNationalGeographicromaniatomatoestripeFri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pickpockets in Copenhagen: Gadling blogger's victim story. Part 2. Was it Romanians?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/12/pickpockets-in-copenhagen-gadling-bloggers-victim-story-part/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/12/pickpockets-in-copenhagen-gadling-bloggers-victim-story-part/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/12/pickpockets-in-copenhagen-gadling-bloggers-victim-story-part/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I can still see the pocket of my daypack gaping open right before I got that panicked, sinking feeling. It was a feeling that I couldn't quite believe I was having. Up to that point, my trip to Denmark though Amsterdam had happened without a hitch, and I had yet to do the shopping I had planned.

The afternoon that had started out promising had the potential to turn out lousy. (see previous pickpocket post)

My experience of having my wallet lifted right out of a pocket of my daypack is not uncommon, as I have since found out. On Wednesday, the day after I returned to the U.S. with less money than I counted on having--thus way less shopping, my Danish friend emailed me with recent news about pickpockets in Denmark.

She heard on the television news that over the last three weeks, the police have arrested 61 Romanian pickpockets in Copenhagen. My friend wrote that the increase of pickpocketing is due to the Christmas season.

While I was looking for a link to an article on this particular news item, I found several others. While browsing these stories, I've discovered a couple of details to pass on to folks heading to Copenhagen. They can be also be applied to any major city such as Amsterdam where Whistling in the Dark's photo was taken.

Continue reading Pickpockets in Copenhagen: Gadling blogger's victim story. Part 2. Was it Romanians?

Pickpockets in Copenhagen: Gadling blogger's victim story. Part 2. Was it Romanians? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Copenhagencrimecrime preventionCrimePreventionpickpocketsTivoli GardenTivoliGardentrain stationsTrainStationsvictimFri, 12 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[United Nations report: Balkans the safest region in Europe]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/30/un-balkans-the-safest-region-in-europe/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/30/un-balkans-the-safest-region-in-europe/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/30/un-balkans-the-safest-region-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


When I arrived in Montenegro three months ago, one of the things that struck me first was how safe things felt.

What was I expecting?

Well, not a lot of armed thugs or anything. But I'd traveled enough in the former communist corners of Europe -- including past trips into the Balkans -- to notice a slightly different atmosphere than you feel in more staid places like the Netherlands or Germany. There isn't the sense of order you find in those places, and that absence piques your alertness. It's not that you are in danger at all, but you are certainly a little more aware of your surroundings.

Before coming to Montenegro, I'd last been in the Balkans -- specifically Croatia and Bosnia -- four years before. These recent months of traveling in the region has had a decidedly different feel -- Albania being a noteworthy exception.

Turns out that the United Nations is feeling pretty bullish on the Balkans as well.

The UN released a surprising report yesterday that called the Balkans perhaps Europe's safest region, saying countries like Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia boast lower numbers of murders, rapes and petty crime than western Europe.

"The Balkans is departing from an era when demagogues, secret police and thugs profited from sanctions-busting and the smuggling of people, arms, cigarettes and drugs," the report said.

The report surveyed nine countries: Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania.

The report still notes the pervasiveness of corruption and organized crime activities, however.

Of course, a fair question to ask about this report in general is: Compared to what?

After all, the UN notes -- in a major nod to the obvious, it seems to me -- that regular crimes, including homicides and rapes, "across the region are by far lower than they used to be, particularly in the beginning of the 1990s." Well duh. At the beginning of the 1990s, didn't you have widespread instability and lawlessness in places like Romania, Bulgaria and Albania as they emerged out of communism? Didn't you have a regional war that engulfed Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro in an orgy of killing and destruction that lasted nearly five years?

To compare crime rates in some of these countries now to a time when crime was the only thing that counted doesn't seem to say much. It would have been more useful for the UN to note how things have changed in, say, the last five years.

United Nations report: Balkans the safest region in Europe originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 May 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MacedoniaMoldovaFri, 30 May 2008 08:00:00 EST